Arielle had always preferred the night not in a dramatic way,ot because she thought it made her special,it was simply easier to breathe after sunset.The world softened when the sky darkened,sounds grew quieter, and people stopped expecting her to smile.
She sat by her bedroom window,watching the last strip of orange fade behind distant rooftops.The glass reflected her face faintly, but she avoided looking too closely,mirrors unsettled her,she couldn't explain why,only that they made her feel… misplaced.
Downstairs,the television murmured,her aunt called it "background noise" but Arielle knew it was there to fill silence that otherwise felt too empty.
At school that day,nothing unusual had happened or rather,nothing unusual by other people's standards.Teachers praised her test scores,classmates whispered that she was quiet in a strange way,and no one noticed how the glowing lights flickered whenever she grew anxious.No one ever mentioned it,so she convinced herself she imagined it....Yet tonight,the air felt heavier.
A subtle knock came from the front door,Arielle froze,no one ever visited this late..
Her aunt opened the door after a moment,footsteps echoing through the hallway,although there was no conversation, no greeting just the soft sound of the door closing again.
Then a knock on Arielle's bedroom door.
A letter for you,her aunt said,her voice bewildered,Arielle opened the door.
In her hand was a single envelope,smooth and black as polished stone,no stamp or return address....only her name written in thin silver ink that seemed to shimmer when she moved it.....were u expecting any letter her aunt asked?nope,none I can remember Arielle replied,her aunt raised her eyebrow casually "Weird mail system,I guess".She handed it over and walked away,already losing interest.
Arielle closed the door behind her and sat on the bed,the envelope felt cool,almost cold, against her palm then she broke the seal.
Inside was a single sheet of paper,the writing neat and formal,it was an invitation.... Noctis Academy a boarding school,all expenses were covered,required to arrive at midnight,location attached,with one final line at the bottom:
"Once admitted,there's no going back".
Her heartbeat slowed instead of speeding up—fear should have screamed warnings, but curiosity drowned it out.What lay ahead gripped her mind tighter than any panic could she wondered who sent it but then she made up her mind.She was going,something was off plus normal school stuff was boring,she wasn't born to blend in with normal humans.
Noctis.....Night.
The word felt familiar in a way that made no sense,Arielle read the letter again,then a third time.
From downstairs,the television fell silent,the house settled.Outside,the wind stopped
Arielle picked up the acceptance card included with the letter. A tiny circular seal rested at its center,made of a dark material that absorbed the light around it her thumb hovered above it.
Somewhere in the room,a whisper brushed the edge of her hearing,not a word yet just a presence.
She pressed her thumb onto the seal.
The lights in the house snapped off.
Darkness swallowed the room.
And in the black, something finally spoke her name....
Early the next morning,Arielle found her aunt in the kitchen,the letter still in her hand.
"This is the letter from last night"Arielle said.Aunt Mara wiped her hands and picked up the envelope "No address,no phone number" Her brow furrowed "A night-only boarding school? That's strange".
"It says everything is covered"Arielle replied quietly,her aunt studied the letter again,then looked at Arielle,really looked at her "You've never liked your school,you barely sleep and I know things have been… hard here"
Arielle didn't answer,they both knew what "hard" meant....After a long moment,Aunt Mara sighed "If this is real,it's an opportunity but I won't force you,this is your choice."
That night,Arielle lay awake,listening to the house settle around her.She had never felt she truly belonged anywhere,if a strange school in the night wanted her… maybe that was reason enough.
By morning,her decision was made.